NEWS - Young People from Southampton Will Meet The Local Heroes Who Have Helped Them Transform Their Lives and Get Jobs In The Midst of The Pandemic.

Despite one of the toughest economic climates, the last three months has seen charities and businesses from across Southampton City come together to support some of the city’s young people who are furthest away from the employment market.

A collaboration between Saints Foundation, the charity of Southampton Football Club, and social enterprise Goal 17 has been sponsored and supported by the staff from Southampton City Council and construction and infrastructure company Balfour Beatty.

The young people have received wellbeing and employability training through the Foundation’s Saints Works programme, alongside one-to-one mentoring from volunteers who work for the Council and Balfour Beatty.

This blend of training and support has seen the 12 young people transform their prospects with many gaining permanent employment.

The Mentors, who have all taken time away from their normal working agendas to train in mentoring skills and support the young people, have also gained so much from the experience. Each will be awarded a certificate from Oxford Brookes University for completing the Goal 17 Mentoring Programme.

As restrictions begin to ease, the young people will finally get the opportunity to meet the Mentors and Saints Foundation staff who have been phoning and supporting them throughout the programme.

Sport and football have been at the heart of the programme, used as a catalyst to bring people together from different sides of the community. Saints Foundation have arranged a friendly football match between their staff, the Mentors and the Mentees as a graduation event to celebrate how much everyone has achieved.

Brian Hammersley, Balfour Beatty Living Places Contract Director, said: “As we recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, there has never been a more critical time for organisations to step up and to invest in our future talent.

“As we continue to support this initiative, we take another step forward in bridging the skills shortage that our industry is currently facing; providing opportunities for young people to gain valuable knowledge, experience and confidence as we build the workforce of tomorrow.”

Fran Boorman, Founder of Goal 17, who coordinated the programme said: “It has been an honour to support the incredible work of Saints Foundation and the team of Mentors have been outstanding, really making a difference to these young people. I am both impressed and inspired by the progress each of them has made and I hope they become an inspiration for other young people. I am sure this project will also inspire more local business people to step up to help support others in their community.”

Mike Dixon from Saints Foundation adds: “It has been fantastic working with Goal 17 and Balfour Beatty to provide a unique opportunity for the young people taking part in our programme. For our young people to have an employer that has been able to take the time to support and mentor them through their journey to find employment has been invaluable. The relationships they have built with their mentors has really helped develop their confidence and given them the experience of having a professional relationship that most will not have experienced before. The mentors have really played a vital role in preparing them for their next steps into employment.

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There is an opportunity to join us at the event however we will be adhering to strict social distancing guidelines so will need all attendees to register and agree to covid measures.